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History and beauty on the Cornish Coast

It is difficult not to be stunned when you visit Caerhays Castle and its 140 acre spring Gardens which are the home of the Williams family.

The natural beauty of the coastline and its steep valleys, the architectural surprises, the inescapable sense of history and the range of activities and facilities that the estate offers, all set the scene for a wonderful day of discovery and exploration.

The gardens originated from the work of plant hunters in China at the start of the 20th century. Caerhays bred the very first x williamsii camellias and is today the home of a Plant Heritage National Collection of Magnolias containing over 600 species and named hybrids from around the world. The spring gardens have an international reputation and have been described as 'world class'.

The castle itself was designed by the famous Regency architect John Nash around 200 years ago and both the building and the two families who have lived and worked at Caerhays have played significant roles in the history of Cornwall and its former tin mining industry.

You can visit the castle and gardens in the spring time, walk in the grounds and visit the stunning beaches and coastal paths which make up the estate.

This is a renowned shooting estate, a popular wedding venue as well as often being used for filming, as a photographic location and for corporate hospitality.

Enjoy the tranquility, beauty and history of the whole estate for a day, or for longer if you choose to stay awhile in the restored Georgian splendour of The Vean or in one of the estate’s many holiday cottages.

The branch is still hanging but we will hopefully pull it down later this week.

First few flowers on a Rhododendron calophytum hybrid above Crinodendron Hedge.

Magnolia ‘Leda’ is just coming out. Notice the splash of greenish yellow on the tips of the outer tepals. The name means ‘The Swan’ and it was raised in Mark Bulk’s nurseries in Holland.

Magnolia ‘Vairano’ came from Eisenhut’s nursery in Switzerland. I hope this is true to name?

2018 – CHW

New shop now ready to go and the plant sales area looking good.

plant sales area

plant sales area
plant sales area

Camellia gigantiocarpa has had a little of its new growth frosted.

Camellia gigantocarpa
Camellia gigantocarpa

More labels to go out on record trees with Karol. About 140 now in place with 25 to 30 to go. Two cries of ‘bugger’ as Karol manages to bust a couple with the hammer. Camellia ‘Show Girl’ was nice on Rookery Path. Another new one to us.

Camellia ‘Show Girl’
Camellia ‘Show Girl’

These are our own young plants of what may be Camellia cuspidata or they may be Camellia taliensis? The habit is not that of Camellia tsai but the flowers are not that different. Anyway I am sending the photographs to Tom Hudson to prolong this amusing debate as to which of these three species is which.
You can see saga unfold here…

may be Camellia cuspidata
may be Camellia cuspidata
may be Camellia cuspidata

may be Camellia cuspidata
may be Camellia cuspidata

The first high up flowers on Rhododendron sutchuenense by the Auklandii Garden.

Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense

Narcissus cyclamineus just out in the Auklandii.

Narcissus cyclamineus

Loads of ripe berries on Ilex perado var perado which is a UK record tree.

Ilex perado var perado
Ilex perado var perado

A young Camellia ‘Look Away’ flowering with us for the first time. Nothing special!

Camellia ‘Look Away’

Nice but sparse single red flowers on one of the old (pure) Camellia japonica on the Main Ride.

Camellia japonica
Camellia japonica

Biscuit (front), Nuttie, Dexter and Nickel attempting to sit down.

Biscuit (front), Nuttie, Dexter and Nickel

Young Biscuit six months old.

Biscuit

Mr Billy being perfect as usual.

Billy

Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ is finally out in full with a blue sky behind it. The ‘dog shit on stalks’ has largely blown away.

Ross has now felled all the abies by Donkey Shoe but managed to badly scrape the replacement tree which had been growing beside it for the last 15 to 20 years! No comment.

Ross has now felled all the abies by Donkey Shoe but managed to badly scrape the replacement tree
Ross has now felled all the abies by Donkey Shoe but managed to badly scrape the replacement tree

A very light pink form of Camellia granthamiana by Orchid House Nursery. Not exactly a show stopper. Quite exposed here which it dislikes. The Burncoose plant is far better. Our other plant of this tenderish species has apparently died.

Camellia granthamiana
Camellia granthamiana

Magnolia ‘Todds Fortyniner’ finally full out three weeks or more from when it first showed colour. Relatively little frost damage is evident.

Outside the front gate is a seedling from the same seed pan as ‘Caerhays Belle’. Quite nice but smallish flowers which are a good pink against a clear sky which it was not today.

seedling from the same seed pan as ‘Caerhays Belle’
seedling from the same seed pan as ‘Caerhays Belle’

A similar unnamed seedling in Bond Street is also looking ok but with some wind damage. Both plants are worth their place if only in terms of being early.

similar unnamed seedling in Bond Street

Camellia ‘Dr Burnside’ just coming out by the Four in Hand. One of the very best early double reds but a month later than usual this year.

Camellia ‘Dr Burnside’

A second Magnolia mollicomata ‘Werrington’ hiding below Sinogrande Walk was a surprise. Just as dark as the one in Kennel Close.

2016 – CHW

The final proof of the article written for the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group yearbook arrives with us. In a record early magnolia year, and since some of these are full out today, I attach the full article with pictures for the purposes of enjoyment, jealousy or longing – take your pick!

1935 – JCW Fuschias cut not too badly, Camellias flowering well and the frost hardly harms them. Our Magnolia campbelli is very good indeed.Note at bottom of Garden Book page: There is a pencil note in J.C.W Williams Magnolias saying ‘There came on Jan 22 – 1928 from Darjeeling 3 seeds of white Magnolia campbellii I think only one grew and was planted below the top ride between Engine House and Tin Garden. This flowered well March 1939. Larger than Campbelli and a pure white. The frost had burst its sap and in May it died to the ground. It broke again and made shoots of 2ft by October but very soft.
1925 – JCW Well ahead of 1922 say ten days ago almost all the Sutchuenense show flowers or are open. Moupinense is about over, Blood Red Arboreums just at their best.
1922 – JCW The double Prunus pissardi has been good for the first time. Prunus mume of Wilson is just over, Prunus clementinae not quite open. Scarlet Thomsonii hybrids good, two or three Sutchuenense hybrids are flowering, Rhodo lutescens and the early species of Sutchuenense are goodish. There is no Argenteum in bloom so far.

1915 – JCW Some good Camellia Lady Clare flowers. Also two or three good plants of Arboreum x Thomsonii open now.